Ford Endeavour Facelift vs Fortuner vs Upcoming Rexton vs Pajero Sport: Diesel Spec Comparison

Can the over 200PS Endeavour facelift with the new twin-turbo 2.0-litre diesel dust off the competition in the popular body-on-frame SUV segment?

Ford has taken the wraps off the Endeavour facelift in Australia, where the SUV has been developed at its Asia Pacific Product Development Centre. The production of the updated model should begin in the coming months in Thailand, the global manufacturing hub for the right-hand-drive version, as it will go on sale in Australia in the last quarter of 2018. The India launch is expected in early 2019 (probably around Jan-Feb), nearly three years after the debut of the second-gen model in January 2016.

Pictured: Pre-facelift Ford Endeavour 

The second-gen Ford Endeavour is loaded to the brim and it looks tough and macho as well. So as they say: “If it ain't broke, don't fix it,” Ford didn’t alter its aesthetics much with this mid-life refresh. While the interior is still under wraps, the automaker is unlikely to come with significant changes both in terms of appearance and features. 

The big change, however, is under the hood as the Endy gets a segment-first twin-turbocharged 2.0-litre diesel. Thanks to the new engine from Ford’s latest EcoBlue diesel engine family, the updated Endeavour has become the most powerful SUV in its segment (full-size, ladder-frame-based SUVs) in the Asia Pacific market. Here’s how it stacks up against its prime rivals in India.  

The Endeavour puts out a noticeable 36PS more than the best-selling model (in India), the Toyota Fortuner, and even the torque output is a whooping 80Nm more the Toyota. Similar is the case with the two other upcoming offerings, the rebadged Mahindra Rexton and the new Mitsubishi Pajero Sport. 

• Mahindra To Launch Rebadged Rexton In India In 2018; Will Rival The Fortuner, Endeavour

It also has a segment-first 10-speed automatic transmission, which it shares with cars such as the upcoming Ford Mustang facelift and the F-150 pick-up truck. This transmission was co-developed by Ford and GM. Understandably, the 10-speed unit will have closer gear ratios when compared to automatic units of the rivals and even the Endy’s existing 6-speed box. This should certainly help the engine offer better torque output over a wider range of speeds compared to competitors.

While this engine has been introduced with the Australia-spec Endeavour facelift and will eventually be offered in Thailand as well since Ford is manufacturing it there, the powertrain option is yet to be confirmed for the Indian market. However, if Ford will continue with the existing 3.2-litre diesel, here’s how it fares against the competition:

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We feel that Ford should discontinue the less powerful 2.2-litre diesel engine (160PS/385Nm) and offer the 3.2-litre engine as the base motor and the new 2.0-litre Bi-turbo as the range-topping model. Ford could also add an ‘S’ label with the 2.0-litre motor in the Indian market like it has on other models here. 

Check out what other changes Ford has carried out in the Endeavour facelift here: Ford Endeavour Facelift Revealed; India Launch Likely In 2019

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